The Basis of Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT)

 

What is radiotherapy and what does it do?

Radiotherapy, together with conventional surgery, is one of the most common cancer treatment options available. Radiation can shrink a tumor by killing tumor cells or interfering with the tumor’s ability to grow. With conventional radiotherapy the radiation dose needed to destroy the tumor is applied in low doses during many sessions.

An effective radiation delivery method used in radiotherapy is Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). During IMRT the radiation dose is matched to the three-dimensional shape of a patient’s lesion, focusing higher radiation doses on the tumor while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue surrounding the treatment area. IMRT utilizes multiple radiation beams from more than one direction that constantly adjust to achieve the three-dimensional shape of the tumor.

Radiation therapy stops tumor cells from growing and dividing. In many cases radiation therapy can effectively kill cancer cells by shrinking or eliminating the tumor all together.

One of the most important steps on the way to improve radiotherapy was the introduction of computed tomography with direct applications within treatment planning. This new imaging technique, coupled with improvements in computer processing capabilities and speed, meant computer planning systems rapidly developed to allow individualized patient planning in 3 dimensions. This was followed by the introduction of multi-leaf collimators, which resulted in an increase in the conformality of the dose distribution achievable around the treatment target.

How is image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) superior to other methods?

More sophisticated methods of planning and beam delivery are now available in the form of intensity modulated radiotherapy, IMRT in which the intensity of the radiation is varied during radiation beam delivery. This enables better sparing of organs at risk and the possibility of escalating the dose to the target without compromising surrounding healthy tissue. This benefit can only be fully realized if the radiation distribution is assured to be delivered where it is planned in relation to patient structures.

Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) uses imaging techniques to improve the accuracy of radiotherapy delivery to the target tumor, allowing more accurate and precise targeting of the treatment volume and avoidance of organs at risk. This may lead to a reduction in the radiation-induced complications and side effects that are caused by irradiation of normal tissues. It may also allow an increased dose to be delivered to the target tissues, thereby maximizing the chances of successful control or eradication of the tumor.

Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) improves the radiotherapy treatment in the following ways:

• To visualize the anatomical target and organs at risk in 3D
• To identify changes in position, shape and size of target anatomy relative to that seen when the treatment was planned
• To quantify the variation in position of the anatomical target between the planned and initial setup treatment images
• To correct any patient misalignment by changing the relative geometry of the treatment machine before the treatment is delivered.

What is the Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) Unit Comprised of?

The typical image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) system is a kV-cone beam CT system integrated onto a precise linear accelerator. The system consists of an X-ray tube and amorphous silicon flat panel detector both of which are mounted with a view direction that is perpendicular to the treatment beam axis. The tube is deployed for imaging while the detector unfolds from its stored position against the face of the gantry under motorized control. The configuration of the system has the X-ray source at 1000 mm from the machine’s isocenter, which is the same standard distance of the therapeutic source to the isocenter.

There is also another, technically different, approach to image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT): Tomotherapy is a new way of delivering radiation treatment for cancer and literally means “slice therapy”. The tomotherapy system can deliver small beamlets of radiation from every point on a spiral, providing exceptional accuracy.

The more angles that a radiation treatment beam can be delivered from, the better the focus on the tumor and the less effect on surrounding tissue.

What makes tomotherapy truly revolutionary, however, is the ability to create a computed tomography (CT) image just prior to radiation treatment. This means that we can now view a full three-dimensional image of a patient’s anatomy and adjust the size, shape and intensity of the radiation beam to the precise location of the patient’s tumor.

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Source: http://www.medwow.com/articles/

tags: Tomotherapy  , image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT)    , Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) , Radiotherapy   ,  imaging equipment, Radiology

Telemedicine and How it Benefits Society

 

 

e-Health Defined

The term e-Health has been in use since the year 2000. e-Health includes much of medical information science, but is inclined to prioritize the delivery of clinical information, care and services rather than the functions of technologies. No single consensus, all-encompassing definition of e-health exists – the term tends to be defined in terms of a series of characteristics specified at varying levels of detail and generality. e-health is considered an important revolution in healthcare since the beginning of modern medicine or even public health measures, including sanitation, clean water and more.

The term e-Health can encompass a range of services or systems that are on the edge of medicine/healthcare and information technology, including:

• Electronic health records: enabling the communication of patient data between different healthcare professionals.
• Telemedicine: physical and psychological treatments at a distance.
• Consumer health informatics: use of electronic resources on medical topics by healthy individuals or patients.
• Health knowledge management: e.g. in an overview of latest medical journals, best practice guidelines or epidemiological tracking.
• Virtual healthcare teams: consisting of healthcare professionals who collaborate and share information on patients through digital equipment.
• m-Health includes the use of mobile devices in collecting aggregate and patient level health data, providing healthcare information to practitioners, researchers, and patients, real-time monitoring of patient vitals, and direct provision of care via mobile telemedicine.
• Healthcare Information Systems: also often refers to software solutions for appointment scheduling, patient data management, work schedule management and other administrative tasks surrounding health.

Over time, chronic patients often acquire a high level of knowledge about the processes involved in their own care, and frequently develop a routine in coping with their condition. For these types of routine patients, front-end e-health solutions tend to be relatively easy to implement.

What exactly is e-Mental health?

e-Mental health refers to the delivery of mental health services via internet through: videoconferencing, chat, or email web applications. e-Mental health encompasses online talk therapy, online pharmaceutical therapy, online counseling, computer-based interventions, cyber mental health approaches, and online life coaching. This form of psychological intervention modality offers a series of benefits, as well as challenges to providers and clients. Most notable of all challenges is online security.

How does Telemedicine and m-Health work?

Telemedicine is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve patients’ health status or for educational purposes. It includes consultative, diagnostic and treatment services. Mobile health information technology (m-Health) typically refers to portable devices with the capability to create, store, retrieve, and transmit data in real time between end users for the purpose of improving patient safety and quality of care. The flow of mobile health information is characterized by portable hardware coupled with software applications central to patient care and subsequently increases clinicians’ reach, mobility, and ease of information access, regardless of location.

For example, a clinician might use a mobile device to access a patient electronic health record, write and transmit prescriptions to a pharmacy, interact with patient treatment plans, communicate public health data, order diagnostic tests, review labs, or access medical references. Data transmission is accomplished by technologies common in everyday life including: blue tooth, cell phone, infra-red, WiFi, and wired technologies; all of which operate as part of a network. Mobile devices can be helpful across the health care spectrum, transmitting vital information quickly during an acute public health crisis or being used for ongoing needs, such as education and training. When utilized for patient care, mobile devices are credited with improving patient safety by eliminating errors commonly associated with paper-based medical records and improving and enhancing the continuity of care. In addition to improved patient outcomes, workflow and administrative efficiencies from the use of mobile devices can produce cost savings for the user or user organization.

The future of Telemedicine

Telemedicine applications will play an increasingly important role in healthcare and provide tools that are indispensable for home health care, remote patient monitoring, and disease management. Telemedicine will include not only rural health and battlefield care, but nursing home, assisted living facilities, and maritime and aviation applications.

Advances in technology, including wireless connectivity and mobile devices, will give practitioners, medical centers, and hospitals important new tools for managing patient care, electronic records, and medical billing in order to ultimately enable patients to have more control of their own well being.

The benefits of Mobile Health (m-Health)

m-Health or mobile health, is a term used for the practice of medicine and public health, supported by mobile devices. The term is most commonly used in reference to using mobile communication devices, such as mobile phones and PDAs, for health services and information. The m-Health field has emerged as a sub-segment of e-Health, the use of information and communication technology such as computers, mobile phones, communications satellite, patient monitors, etc., for health services and information. m-Health applications include the use of mobile devices in collecting community and clinical health data, delivery of healthcare information to practitioners, researchers, and patients, real-time monitoring of patient vital signs, and direct provision of care via mobile telemedicine.

While m-Health certainly is applicable for industrialized nations, the field has emerged in recent years primarily as an application for developing countries, stemming from the rapid rise of mobile phone penetration in low-income nations. The field, then, largely emerges as a means of providing greater access to larger segments of populations in developing countries, as well as improving the capacity of health systems in such countries to provide quality healthcare.

Tags: imaging equipment, medical equipment, medical parts, Tomosynthesis   , m-Health or mobile health  , Telemedicine   , Healthcare Information Systems   , healthcare    ,  medical equipment, medical equipment parts, Medical Software, MedWOW, Telemedicine

Source: http://www.medwow.com/articles/

The Benefits of Pulse Oximetry

 

 

 

 

The Non-Invasive Advantage

There is no doubt that pulse oximetry represents a great advance in patient monitoring. It is a relatively inexpensive and above all, completely non-invasive technique.

Pulse oximetry is a continuous and non-invasive method of measuring the level of arterial oxygen saturation in blood. The measurement is taken by placing a sensor on a patient, usually on the fingertip for adults, and the hand or foot for infants. The sensor is connected to the pulse oximetry instrument with a patient cable. The pulse oximetry sensor collects signal data from the patient and sends it to the instrument. The instrument displays the calculated data in three ways:

• As a percent value for arterial oxygen saturation (SpO₂).
• As a pulse rate (PR).
• As a plethysmographic waveform.

The Evolution of Pulse Oximetry

Development of non-invasive spectrophotometric techniques to monitor O₂ saturation began during World War II. The development of high altitude aircraft created a need for pilots to be externally monitored for any physiological changes induced by extreme altitude. In response to this need, the first functional non-invasive spectrophotometer was developed in 1942. Its inventor, Glen Millikan, named this new device the “oximeter”.

Pulse oximeters have evolved from physiologic monitoring curiosities to common patient monitoring devices. New pulse oximetry technology couples spectrophotometry with pulse waveform monitoring and permits clinicians to continuously assess arterial O₂ saturation in operating rooms, in intensive care units, during sleep studies (polysomnography), and at the bedside. Portable pulse oximeters and recorders have also become popular monitoring devices during emergency medical transport and outpatient assessment of gas exchange. Advantages to pulse oximeters, other than their non-invasiveness, include their well-documented accuracy, ease-of-application, and good patient tolerance.

Pulse Oximetry’s Abilities

Continuous pulse oximetric monitoring of arterial oxygenation can detect intermittent or chronic disruptions in gas exchange that may not be detected by random arterial blood sampling and analysis. Also, pulse oximeter measurements of O₂ saturation do not carry the risk of morbidity and mortality associated with invasive arterial blood sampling. Another value of continuous monitoring is the ability to quantitatively determine the amount of time spent at any given level of arterial O₂ saturation. This information can then be used to monitor the progression of gas exchange impairment or to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. With such widespread application of pulse oximetry technology, comprehension of the operating principles and the practical limitations of use can aid clinicians. The following section describes the fundamental principles used in pulse oximetry technology to acquaint clinicians with environmental and physiological conditions that can affect their use.

The Measurement Process

The measurement process is based on two factors:

• A pulsatile signal is generated by the heart in arterial blood, which is not present in venous blood and other tissues.
• Oxyhemoglobin and reduced hemoglobin have different absorption spectra. Also, it is important to note that both spectra are within the optical window of water (and the soft tissue).

Pulse oximeters measure oxygen saturation by means of a sensor attached to the patient’s finger, toe, nose, earlobe or forehead. Typically, the sensor uses two light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at wavelengths of 660nm and 940 nm (infrared) and a photodetector placed opposite them. The photodetector measures the amount of red and infrared light that passes through the tissue to determine the quantity of light absorbed by the oxyhemoglobin and hemoglobin. As the proportion of oxyhemoglobin increases in the blood, the absorbance of the red wavelength decreases, while the absorption of infrared increases. SpO₂ is determined by calculating the ratio of red-to-infrared light absorbencies and comparing it with values in a look-up table or calibration curve, which is a standardized curve developed empirically by simultaneous measurement of SaO₂ and light absorbencies.

SpO₂ is physiologically related to arterial oxygen tension (PaO₂) according to the O₂Hb dissociation curve. Because the O₂Hb dissociation curve has a sigmoid shape, oximetry is relatively insensitive in the detection of developing hypoxemia in patients with high baseline PaO₂.

SpO₂ measurements made by a pulse oximeter are defined as being accurate if the root-mean-square (RMS) difference is less than or equal to 4.0% SpO₂ over the arterial oxygen saturation (SaO₂) range of 70% to 100%, SpO₂ accuracy should be determined by clinical study of healthy or sick subjects, whereby SpO₂ measurements are compared with SaO₂ measurements.

Other Pulse Oximeter Factors

Pulse oximeters can also measure pulse rate. The standard states that pulse rate accuracy should be defined as the RMS difference between paired pulse data recorded with pulse oximeter and a reference method.

There are several limitations of pulse oximetry:

skin pigmentation, ambient light, intravenous dyes, low perfusion and motion artifact.

As pulse oximetry technology has advanced, manufacturers have attempted to reduce the effect of some of the limitations mentioned above. Particular improvements have been made in the ability of oximeters to deal with low signal-to-noise conditions observed during periods of motion or low perfusion.

Regular functional checks should be carried out on equipment to ensure it is safe to use. This should include visual checks, especially checking for signs of damage.

Functionality of an oximeter can be checked using a pulse oximeter tester or simulator. These simulate the properties of a finger and its pulsatile blood flow. Their purpose is allowing testing of a pulse oximeter and the continuity of probes. They cannot be used to validate the accuracy of a pulse oximeter.
Tags: home care, medwow, oximetry, Pulse Oximeter   ,  MedWOW, Pulse Oximeters   , pulse oximeter tester   , patient monitoring devices  ,  Pulse oximetry   ,

 

 

Source: http://www.medwow.com/articles/

About Remote Monitoring for Cardiac Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverters Defibrillators Patients

 

 

How Remote Cardiac Monitoring Works

Remote monitoring of implantable active cardiac devices involves transmission stored in a patient’s cardiac implant, automatically or by patient-activation, to a receiver in the patient’s home. From the receiver, information is transmitted via a telephone or other network to a server or service center, where the data is published on a secure and dedicated website, which is viewable by the patient’s clinician. In the case of a significant event which requires urgent treatment, the clinician can be alerted by fax, email or short message service.

Disorders of the heart’s conduction system may lead to arrhythmias that are associated with reduced quality of life and sudden cardiac death if untreated. Treatments include pharmacological therapy or direct electrical stimulation. Electrical intervention is delivered via implanted cardiac devices that can stimulate the heart, resynchronize contraction, or deliver intracardiac shocks to terminate lethal rhythms. These devices include permanent pacemakers to treat bradyarrhythmias, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) to decrease the risk of sudden cardiac death among high risk patients, and cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers and ICDs to alleviate symptoms and decrease mortality for patients with severe heart failure associated with dyssynchronous ventricular contraction.

Wireless Communication Options

In the era of communication technology, new options are now available for following-up patients implanted with cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators ICDs. Most major companies offer devices with wireless capabilities that communicate automatically with home receivers-transmitters, which then relay data to the physician, thereby allowing remote patient follow-up and monitoring. These systems can be widely used for remote follow-up, and their adoption is rapidly increasing.

Remote monitoring systems with minimal patient involvement have been developed by the main manufacturers which supply implantable cardiac devices. These remote monitoring systems have the ability to transmit periodic messages and, in some cases, patient-activated messages, via landline or mobile telephone networks. Devices transmit data to a secure server or service center at a scheduled time. This may be daily or at a different regular interval specified by the clinician. Data is viewable by clinicians on secure websites. If a significant event that requires urgent patient treatment is detected, an alert can be sent to the clinician by email, SMS or fax.

The Main Components of Remote Pacemaker and ICD Systems

The main components of remote pacemaker and ICD monitoring systems are:

• The implanted cardiac devices capable of storing and transmitting data about the device’s functions.
• All monitoring systems include a remote communication device, which is usually located in a patient’s home. Its function is to receive data from the implant and to transmit the data via a landline or mobile telephone network to a secure server or remote monitoring service center. Some data transfer systems are automated, while others require patient initiation. Data transmission typically last a few minutes, but can be as quick as 10-15 seconds.
• Facilities for clinicians to access patient data or to receive alerts are also required. Generally, patient data can be accessed anywhere and at any time via a secure website and alerts can be sent via e-mail, fax or short-message service (SMS).

Broad Information for Optimal Patient Care

The specially dedicated network enables patients to transmit data from their implantable device automatically or as instructed by their physician, using the communication device that is connected to the cell phone or the standard telephone line. Within minutes, the patient’s physician and nurses can view the data on a secure Internet Web site. Available information includes arrhythmia episode reports and stored electrograms along with device integrity information, which is comparable to the information provided during an in-clinic device follow-up visit, and provides the physician with a view of how the device and patient’s heart are operating. The system provides an efficient, safe and convenient way for specialty physicians to optimize patient care by remotely monitoring the condition of their patients and, if needed, make adjustments to medication or prescribe additional therapy.

Messages received at the secure server or service center are translated into a report, which can be accessed by clinicians using the internet. Data transferred by email or the internet is encrypted before dispatch, to safeguard patient confidentiality. New data is added to a database as it is received. Some cardiac pacemaker and implantable cardioverters defibrillator manufacturers also have a dedicated secure website for patients to access personalized information about their device and condition. Data can also be sent directly to a hospital’s electronic health records system and merged with patients’ health records.

Some manufacturers’ cardiac implants and pacemakers have the capability to detect a problem, such as atrial fibrillation or a device integrity issue, and (when in range) automatically establish wireless communication with the remote sensor/transmitter in the patient’s home. This in turn automatically sends a message to the secure server or service center and the clinician receives a notification via e-mail, fax or SMS.

Informed Purpose and Limitations

The patient needs to be informed of the purpose and limitations of remote monitoring, such as the fact that it does not replace an emergency service or absence of dealing with alert events outside office hours. Before initiating remote monitoring and follow-up, the patient may be requested to sign a written informed consent stating these points and authorizing transmission of personal data to third parties, respect of privacy, and confidentiality of patient data by device companies should be subjected to strict rules, described in contracts.

 

Source: http://www.medwow.com/articles/

Tags: cardiac pacemakers, ICD, implantable cardioverters defibruillators, remote monitors   , Remote monitoring of implantable active cardiac devices   , Remote monitoring systems   ,  devices with wireless capabilities   ,   implanted cardiac devices   , Cardiac Ultrasound, ICD, Pacemakers

New Ways in the Field of Medical Imaging: Terahertz Radiation

 

 

The History of Terahertz (THz) Radiation
Terahertz (THz) radiation refers to the region of the electromagnetic spectrum between 100GHz and 30 THz (wavelengths of 3 mm to about 1 µm). This encompasses the region from just beyond microwaves through the far infrared and some way into mid-infrared. In the past, generating THz radiation required bulky and expensive equipment like free electron lasers or alternatively, the use of thermal sources to produce weak, incoherent radiation. Detecting (Terahertz) THz radiation was not much easier, requiring liquid helium-cooled bolometers with poor noise performance.

Radio waves sent at terahertz (THz) frequencies usually travel in line of sight. These waves, known as terahertz radiation, are in a waveband that is the overlap of what is normally regarded as microwave radiation and far-infrared light. The Earth’s atmosphere is a strong absorber of terahertz (THz) radiation, so the range of terahertz radiation is quite short. However, recent technologies using terahertz radiation have been developed, which are intended for applications including medical imaging and surveillance.

The research in terahertz radiation is almost 15 years old and includes waves between 300 GHz to 10 THz. The first imaging device based on terahertz radiation was introduced in 1995 by Hu and Nuss. Terahertz imaging has applications in security screening systems, genetic engineering, pharmaceutical quality control and medical imaging.

Technological Advances in Terahertz (THz) Imaging
The lack of viable sources and detectors leads to this band of the spectrum to be referred to as the “THz Gap”. In recent times however, advances in technology have made possible the production and detection of THz radiation with solid-state devices operating at room temperature. In doing so, a previously unavailable region of the spectrum has been made accessible, and it is a region of great potential for medical science in particular. While other portions of the spectrum are already well-established in medical applications, the properties of the THz band allow it to occupy a new niche. THz quanta are far less energetic than those of x-rays and pose no ionization hazard for biological tissue. While this is also true of microwaves, the shorter wavelengths of the THz band allow for greater spatial resolution. The technology now exists to generate and detect coherent THz radiation at useful power levels, either as a continuous wave or as a series of pulses.

Tetrahertz (THz) Radiation Applications in Medicine and Biology
THz radiation has found two fundamental modes of application in medicine and biology – spectroscopy and imaging, though far more use has been made of the latter in medical applications. An unavoidable issue when imaging with THz radiation is absorption by water. The entire THz band is strongly absorbed by water (or any polar liquid) and consequently does not penetrate moist tissue to any significant depth. So, medical imaging can be done in two different ways, first by performing transmission imaging on thin, clinically prepared tissue samples, and secondly by imaging surface features using reflection geometry imaging. Transmission imaging, for obvious reasons, can only be carried out in vitro, while a reflection geometry set-up allows the possibility of in vivo imaging.

Imaging with THz radiation has been most successful when dealing with illnesses of the skin. Work in this area initially focused on identifying previously diagnosed basal cell carcinomas. At first this was accomplished in vitro using both transmission and reflection modes, where THz showed promising tissue differentiating abilities – being able to distinguish between diseased and normal, but inflamed tissue. More recently, reflection geometry techniques have been used to take in vivo THz images of skin cancers, showing surface features and depth information. In both the in vivo and in vitro tests, THz radiation has been shown to perform well when compared to the standard in vitro histological test.

Another area where THz imaging will likely find use is wound assessment. It is also conceivable that THz imaging could be of use in monitoring treatment of skin conditions (like psoriasis), since THz imaging is cheaper than MRI and does not necessitate contact with the skin like ultrasound.

Future Potential for Dental Applications
In dentistry, in vitro experiments using THz imaging and spectroscopy have already been carried out to determine the characteristic THz properties of enamel and dentine in human teeth. THz radiation has been shown to be capable of the early detection of dental caries. Since in vivo THz imaging is currently limited to surface features, it would seem that dentistry should be a suitable field of application. However, in practice THz imaging systems are large and cumbersome and even structures as observable as teeth can make a challenging target. In this respect, THz imaging is still some way off from offering a non-ionizing alternative to x-rays in dentistry.

Image Source: Ophir-Spiricon Beam Profiler

 

Source: http://www.medwow.com/articles/

 

Tags: imaging equipment, terahertz imaging, terahertz radiation, X-ray imaging , wound assessment  , basal cell carcinomas  ,  medical imaging  , spectroscopy   , Terahertz imaging   , Terahertz (THz) radiation  ,imaging equipment, MedWOW, Radiology, Terahertz

Remote High Dose Rate (HDR) Afterload Brachytherapy Explained

 

 

 

The Advantages of Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy is radiation therapy of cancer. The treatment is performed by placing radioactive sources in or near the tumor. In this way, the tumor is treated from inside the body so it receives the highest possible radiation dose with minimal exposure to the surrounding tissues. Teleradiotherapy, which is achieved by the aid of medical high-energy particles accelerators, is an alternative approach to radiotherapy treatment.

Remote afterloading brachytherapy means that the source is accurately positioned at the tumor by a special mechanical-electronic system through thin tubes or needles. After the treatment, the source is withdrawn into the shielded source-container, which is the major part of the brachytherapy system. Brachytherapy can be performed with short treatment times, high dose rate brachytherapy, or over a longer period of time, low dose or pulsed dose rate brachytherapy.

About Electromagnetic Interference in Hospitals

Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) and Medical Equipment

With the assimilation of wireless communication technology into hospital infrastructures, hospitals are becoming concerned about the impact of radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic interfer (EMI) between wireless technologies and medical equipment. Such interference may cause undesirable changes to medical equipment, possibly resulting in misdiagnosis, mistreatment, and/or patient injuryThese wireless communication devices include: wireless Local Area Networks (LAN), Bluetooth, wireless telecommunications, paging, two-way radios, telemetry devices, cell phones, wireless Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), and PC tablets/laptops. While most medical devices are manufactured now with a recommended 3V/m (10V/m for life support devices) immunity level against interference from RF emissions (IEC 60601-1-2), older equipment may have inadequate shielding and, therefore, be more susceptible to interference.

Preventing Interference

Wireless devices are becoming mainstream in today’s society. The pervasiveness of the mentioned wireless devices in the medical field is unavoidable and here to stay, with more being introduced all the time. So, what is the most logical solution for hospitals? One option is to do nothing and deal with the RFI interference if and as it happens. Another option is to test every electronic-based medical device in the hospital to gauge and measure the potential of interference issues. Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible to test every combination of transmitting wireless device and electronic-based medical device.

Flat Panel Detectors for X-Ray Imaging

 

 

For far too long, the effective design and manufacture of a reliable and affordable digital X-ray radiographic imaging system has been in process, but not completely achieved. Finally, at the end of the last century, commercially available flat panel digital X-ray detectors using amorphous silicon found their permanent place in the X-ray imaging world.
In the current digital era, we are collecting, storing, analyzing and using more and more information at a faster and faster pace. X-ray imaging is no exception. The forces behind the digital X-ray revolution are much the same as those powering home and office technologies. Digital devices are smaller and more robust and once an image is digital, it becomes portable. The x-ray image can easily be made available in multiple locations at the same time, as it can be transmitted over long distances in real-time. Digital images make it possible to have computer-assisted diagnoses. Digital images are far simpler to archive and much less costly than their analog counterpart, film. Digital images, video sequences and even volumetric data sets are easily linked to a patient’s electronic record. Just as digital technologies have dramatically improved home audio and video fidelity, digital X-ray technology offers significant improvement in image quality and dose utilization.

Medical modalities, such as CT, PET, SPECT, MRI and ultrasound are naturally digital. However, standard X-ray radiography and fluoroscopy are still mainly based on analog technologies; specifically, screen/film and the image intensifier. Flat panel detectors (FPDs) have emerged as the next generation digital X-ray technology. Flat panel X-ray imagers are based on solid-state integrated circuit (IC) technology, similar in many ways to the imaging chips used in visible wavelength digital photography and video.

Healing with Continuous Shortwave Diathermy

Alternative Pain Relief in the Mainstream
In the last few decades, many medical professionals have found that there are several ways to help their patients heal without the use of or with limited use of long-term pain medication use. Therapies such as therapeutic massage, neuromuscular stimulators, and therapeutic ultrasound have revolutionized the way the medical community can aid in patient healing.

Another type of technology that has shown real worth in the clinical setting is shortwave diathermy. This method of controlling pain and increasing the blood flow to damaged muscle areas acts with deep heat, as opposed to sound waves like therapeutic ultrasound. In conjunction with other non medication-based therapies, shortwave diathermy can help a large number of patients with varying degrees of injury, as well as different types of injury.

Understanding Surgical Diathermy

 

MedWOW, Surgery Equipment

What is Surgical Diathermy?
Surgical diathermy, also known as electrosurgery, is the passage of a high-frequency alternating current through the body to produce a desirable surgical effect. Despite extensive use, many surgeons and anesthetists remain ignorant of its governing principles and associated hazards. Diathermyinvolves the deliberate use of electrical energy to produce tissue damage and despite the incorporation of various safety measures, injury to patients still occurs.

Principal Electrosurgical Tissue Effects
The main electrosurgical tissue effects are:
• Electrosurgical cutting divides tissue with electric sparks that focus intense heat at the surgical site. By sparking to tissue, the surgeon produces maximum current concentration. To create this spark, the surgeon should hold the electrode slightly away from the tissue. This will produce the greatest amount of heat over a very short period of time, resulting in vaporization of tissue.
• Electrosurgical fulguration (sparking with the coagulation waveform) coagulates and chars the tissue over a wide area. Since the duty cycle (on time) is only about 6 percent, less heat is produced. The result is the creation of a coagulum rather than cellular vaporization. In order to overcome the high impedance of air, the coagulation waveform has significantly higher voltage than the cutting current. Use of high-voltage coagulation current has implications during minimally invasive surgery.
• Electrosurgical desiccation occurs when the electrode is in direct contact with the tissue. Desiccation is achieved most efficiently with the “cutting” current. By touching the tissue with the electrode, the current concentration is reduced. Less heat is generated and no cutting action occurs. The cells dry out and form a coagulum rather than vaporize and explode.
• Many surgeons routinely “cut” with the coagulation current. You can also coagulate with the cutting current by holding the electrode in direct contact with tissue. It may be necessary to adjust power settings and electrode size to achieve the desired surgical effect. The benefit of coagulating with the cutting current is that you will be using far less voltage. Similarly, cutting with the cut current will also accomplish the task using less voltage. This is an important consideration during minimally invasive procedures.

About Surgical Instruments Used in Plastic Surgery

 

 

Due to developing technologies, the medical field is constantly changing and evolving. As a result, the branch of plastic surgery is advancing at an ever-changing pace. Therefore, it is imperative for medical professionals involved in the specialty of plastic surgery to upgrade their instruments on an ongoing basis to ensure they are best serving their patient population. Plastic surgeons’ decisions are based on years of medical research and they are very familiar with complex procedures when deciding which operations and which surgical instrumentsto use to perform complicated surgeries.

Whether for medically indicated plastic surgery or elected plastic surgery for aesthetic enhancement, this branch of medicine is wide and varied and there is a large array of precision plastic surgery instruments used. The most common surgical instrument used in plastic surgery is the scalpel, an extremely sharp knife which is used to cut tissue in many procedures. The scalpel comes in many sizes and shapes and there are even new models that pulse very quickly: 50,000x per second; cutting and sealing at the same time.

5 Things You Should Know About the Extremity CT Scanner

 

The latest development in technology for cameras for sale can be truly astounding. But it can also leave patients wondering why the same advancements aren’t being made in medical imaging. To help give you a better idea of the new developments in medicine, we have decided to focus on the Extremity CT Scanner. The device is promising, and below are five things everyone should know about it.

1. Size – While the standard CT scanner is the size of a room, the new Extremity CT Scanner is far smaller. In fact, the seat itself is one of the largest parts of the scanner. It almost looks like a subway seat with a hole for patients to insert the extremity that needs to be scanned. It’s size also makes it easily transportable onto a van or truck for use in mobile clinics.

2. Uses – As implied by the name, the Extremity CT Scanner is intended to scan an extremity such as an arm or leg. Using this type of CT scanner is vastly superior to using a traditional CT scanner, because it can be done at a fraction of the cost and without the patient having to lie on the bed of a huge machine.

Bilirubin Phototherapy for Babies

 

 

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is an excess of bilirubin in the blood and it causes the baby to look jaundiced. Phototherapy takes advantage of the effect that certain wavelengths of light have on the bilirubin molecule.

Bilirubin phototherapy can be successfully carried out both at the hospital or at home depending on the seriousness of infant’s condition. Generally, babies require several days of bilirubin phototherapy to help them break down excessive levels of bilirubin. Adequate hydration with breast milk or formula is necessary as part of the bilirubin phototherapy to excrete bilirubin pigment through urine and stools and avoid dehydration due to exposure to the lights.

As soon as bilirubin levels return to normal levels, bilirubin phototherapy is discontinued but bilirubin levels need to be continuously monitored for the next few days.

All newborns undergoing bilirubin phototherapy must have their temperature levels, as well as the color of their skin, closely monitored to avoid overheating and skin burns.

Bilirubin phototherapy is overall considered a safe method that has been used for many years to treat neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. Sometimes bilirubin phototherapy can cause mild but unfortunate side effects such as: skin burns, rashes, excessive tanning and skin irritation. Changing the baby’s position every so often during the light therapy is believed by some medical experts to reduce the likelihood of skin irritation. Elimination of excessive bilirubin levels from baby’s blood can cause diarrhea stools in babies, which are considered normal and expected during neonatal jaundice recovery stage.

Medical Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Applications

Medical Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Applications

 

What is RFID?

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a system that wirelessly transmits the identity of any object or person (in the form of a unique serial number) using radio waves. It is recognized under a category of automated identification technologies that includes bar coding and intelligent sensors that can be used for different applications. Bar codes, optical character readers, and biometric technologies, including retinal scans, are some of the automated identification technologies that reduce the time and labor needed to input and manage data manually, which improves operations and data accuracy. The basic components of RFID technology are the tags and readers that collect, integrate, store and report the collected information.

Defibrillators

 

Defibrillators – A Measure For Life Saving

The most common form of treatment for any form of life threatening cardiac arrhythmias and pulsless tachycardia is defibrillation, this is the process of giving a measured amount of electrical energy to the patients heart by way of a defibrillator. It is this electrical current that will halt the arrhythmia and thereby enabling the heart to return to a normal rhythm. There are three forms of systems, either implanted, transvenous or external. With most external systems the current is automated , this enables the untrained bystander or layman to utilize them successfully.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or the more common term CPR is seen as a temporary treatment that will maintain a minimum flow of blood to the brain. By using a defibrillator the patient will receive a controlled electrical shock that will take the heart from a threatening rhythm such as VF or ventricular fibrillation and restore the normal paced rhythms. The system will retain the voltage and pass it to the patient by way of 2 paddles, or electrodes that are placed on the chest, depending on the system.

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound

 

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is a newly designed non-invasive cancer treatment that has the ability to accurately destroy tumors , basically the HIFU operates by bringing numerous beams of ultrasound to a point within the tumor, this effectively destroys the tumor and the surrounding tissue remains unharmed.

This sound wave will pass through the tissue and in so doing parts are absorbed and converted into heat. Once the beam is correctly focused a tiny focus is achievable in deep tissue. Once the beam has reached a required temperature, coagulation of the tissue will take place, by focusing at numerous places a piece of deep tissue can be removed by this heat process.

Growth of the Global Medical Equipment Market

Growth of the Global Medical Equipment Market

 

Currently, the global medical equipment market is experiencing explosive growth. Some estimates predict it will reach $ 365 Billion US dollars by 2015. This is simultaneously occurring as much of the world economies are experiencing economic recession. Much of what is fueling demand is expansion of health care services for the aging population. Medical devices and equipment have the capability to improving clinical outcomes, therefore improving quality of life. The US is the leading consumer in this market, however, other rapidly developing countries, such as China and India, are catching up. These countries are experiencing new prosperity combined with improved awareness of healthcare services. Other less developed countries are trying to improve their healthcare available to their citizens as a priority of their policies. Governments are trying to improve infrastructure as the population increases and demands higher standards for care. All these forces fuel demand for the need to purchase medical equipment. As more customers are buying medical equipment, merchants will be more eager to create or expand businesses that place medical equipment for sale. The net effect will be expansion of the medical equipment market.

There are some forces that counteract this process. For instance, in the US, declining employment reduces demand for medical services. This is because employers are a major provider of health insurance. Also, patients have less disposable income to spend on elective services or procedures, causing a decline in requests for orthopedic and cosmetic procedures. At the same time, healthcare costs and regulation have increased. Insurers and major government healthcare insurance programs, such as Medicare, have steadily reduced their reimbursement for services. This reduces profitability of hospitals and providers who are less willing to allocate resources for more medical equipment. Many market research firms predict markets in developing countries will see the greatest growth in purchasing medical equipment. Areas of Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia are increasing their expenditure on medical products and technologies, therefore, fueling demand. However, the unstable economies of more developed countries have to some extent reduced demand.

Medical device companies are restructuring their strategy for development toward high-end devices that significantly improve diagnostic capability. The rising incidence of chronic disease, such as, diabetes and asthma, as well as an aging population will drive demand for medical equipment that specifically improves existing care. There is more of a focus on preventative medicine and devices that can help identify and treat disease before it occurs. As consumers, providers are pushing for technologies that improve their quality of care and efficiency. Hospitals would like to eliminate non-essential diagnostic procedures and enhance the accuracy of existing diagnostic procedures. There is an increasing trend among health care providers to shift their care to treating patients at home with their families rather than in the hospital. Therefore, medical equipment that can be used at home will be in demand. This includes gloves home dialysis equipment, and wound care supplies. Providers also are interested in technologies that facilitate changes in organizational management structure or medical record keeping, such as, the adoption of electronic medical records (EMR), reducing overall administrative waste and improving efficiency.

Finally, companies are targeting patients as consumers themselves, who are taking on a more active role in their own health care needs. The public is increasingly more educated about medical care and want access to equipment that they can use at home. This could include blood pressure reading devices, medication infusion equipment for insulin and pain control, or gloves and sterile bandages for wound care. There is public concern over exposure to radiation or harmful contrast agents used in common diagnostic procedures, such as in CT scans, X-ray, and angiographic procedures. Medical equipment manufacturers that make products that reduce a patient’s exposure to these sources will see increased demand for their products.\\

 

 

Tags: medical equipment ,  medical equipment for sale  ,  health insurance  , chronic disease  , home dialysis equipment   ,  gloves   , ...

 

 

Source: http://www.medwow.com/articles/

 

 

Common Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Monitors

 intensive care, Surgery Equipment

Intensive care units (ICU) employ a variety of different monitoring techniques in patient care. Monitoring equipment is used in ICUs when care demands more accurate monitoring than bedside physical examination. Equipment can be tailored to monitor a variety of vital signs on a patient, such as, cardiac, pulmonary, hemodynamic, or volume status. Monitors can also be invasive or noninvasive. There are generally seven major types of monitoring devices: blood pressure cuffs, oxygen saturation monitors, cardiac event monitors, arterial lines, central venous lines, swan-ganz catheters (also known as PACs), and end-tidal CO2 monitors.

Blood pressure cuffs come in all shapes and sizes and its important to select a cuff that fits the patient’s arm. A rule of thumb is that the cuff should be 80% of the upper arm circumference and width should be 40% of the upper arm circumference. Having a cuff that is too small leads to falsely elevated pressures. Low-flow states can lead to underestimation of blood pressure. Pulse oximeters are another type of non-invasive monitoring device that measures peripheral arterial blood oxygen saturation. When clipped onto a finger, the device can distinguish reflections of light of oxygenated versus deoxygenated blood, allowing detection of percent oxygen saturation. Cardiac monitors are usually set up similarly to an electrocardiogram, with 12 leads recording electrical activity continuously. They are connected to a computer monitor that reads usually one lead at a time. The computer system can calculate potentially dangerous rhythms and can alarm the medical team during these events.

Noninvasive monitoring is very helpful, however, invasive monitoring in the ICU is usually required for more accurate readings of blood pressure and oxygenation, particularly in patients who are in shock and/or on mechanical ventilation. Arterial lines provide a good way to monitor pressures in the periphery. Central venous pressure lines, aka Central Lines, can give better measures of volume status as well as provide a port to administer medication that cannot be given peripherally. There are generally four locations to gain access to the central venous circulation: the internal jugular vein, subclavian vein, supraclavicular vein, and femoral vein. Major complications from line placement include pneumothorax (air getting into the pleural space, compressing the lung), arterial puncture, vein thrombosis, malposition of catheters, venous air embolism, and infection. There are two main types of catheters for central venous access: multilumen (usually triple-lumen) that can be used for different infusate solutions and an introducer catheter, large bore catheters with side-arm infusion ports for infusion at rapid rates.

Swan-Ganz (PAC) catheters provide the most accurate measurement of a patient’s volume status. These catheters are threaded into the pulmonary artery via the superior vena cava and have a balloon tip that carries the catheter into the pulmonary vasculature until it gets “wedged” into a small artery. Wedging the balloon allows the catheter tip to sample pressures that are very close to the left atrium of the heart and therefore, equivalent to left ventricular end diastolic pressure. In general, there are five different ports of a PAC: Distal injection port, balloon inflation valve, proximal injection port, extra injection port, and the thermistor connector. PAC’s are indicated if there is uncertainty regarding fluid status, especially in heart or kidney failure. Also, when right-sided cardiac pressures do not correlate with left-sided pressures, or to assess left ventricular function when this is unknown. There are four main complications of PACs. Ventricular ectopy can occur when the His fibers at the right ventricle outflow tract are irritated as the balloon advances. The pulmonary artery could rupture causing severe bleeding, which is rare and usually fatal. There is a chance the occluded artery could damage tissue downstream (this is called infarction). Finally, right bundle branch block may occur, which may lead to complete heart block in the presence of pre-existing left bundle branch block. These are the basic strategies that clinicians employ when monitoring patients in the ICU.

Reducing Body Radiation Dose At CT

 CT Scanner, maintenance & installation, Radiology

The explosive spread of CT can be attributed to its speed and diagnostic benefits. Recently it was estimated that more than 70 million CT examinations were performed each year in the United States. Although it accounts for only about one tenth of total radiologic examinations, CT is responsible for more than two thirds of the total radiation dose associated with medical imaging. Public concern with radiation exposure escalated when widely publicized articles claimed that the cancer risk in United States, attributed to CT radiation, has grown owing to the substantial increase in use of CT.

Based on studies of atom bomb survivors, the thought process is that the risk of getting cancer is elevated from an exposure of radiation between 50-100 MSV. There are no definitive answers in the comparisons between the bomb survivors and the recipients of radiation exposure from a medical test- cognizance of these tests have been noted. .

In the last few years a systematic plan of action has been in place for the decreasing of exposure due to a CT, these include cardiac gating, regulating the dosage as per the patients physical attributes, automatic exposure control as well as clinical indications. Whilst the above actions have resulted in increased lowering of dosage, more so with regards to pediatric patients, however the problem that arises is that with the reduction in dosage of CT, so the quality of the images will decline. ASIR – Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction, has recently been implemented in order to solve this decline in image quality.

FBP – Filtered Back Projection is the accepted methodology for the construction of CT images. As speed is a prerequisite in clinics the process of FBP is advantageous as its requirements are lower than the repetitive methods. This procedure is problematic with lower dosage situations. There is an alternative that is available, namely MBIR – Model Based Iterative Reconstruction this has the ability of incorporating the physical CT into the process of reconstruction. Yes, this will enhance the image quality more so with regards to the lower dosage CT-however with the computer technology that is currently available it takes many hours to put an image together.

The procedure of ASIR is reliant on the exact modeling of the sound distribution of the data that is received, instead of that of the systems optics resulting in an algorithm that is speedy as well as being competent in the reduction of the noise and thereby allowing the reducing of dosages that would previously not be possible.

The user has the ability to choose a setting for the amount of ASIR between 10-100% and the resultant image formed is a combination of ASIR and FBP, the finer details are totally dependant on these methods. The procedure of ASIR will increase the ultimate quality of images by decreasing the level of noise, the amount to be reduced is supported by the settings in the image construction.

It is not uncommon that radiologists experience varied sums of image noise and it is also possible that this could stifle their ability in the detection of any abnormalities. It is the advised settings of 20-60% in most cases, the increased amounts especially for that of younger patients who are an elevated risk to radiation exposure, as well as anyone that requires repetitive CT testing and finally when a low dosage is require , for example the detection of kidney stones. A higher setting is optional in a non-contrast examination prior to an angiogram. In making the selection of elevated ASIR settings, the said dosage may be lowered by 45-80% this is dependant on the current indicators.

Heavily overweight patients are likewise assisted by the process of ASIR in that the quality of the images is increased dramatically. In overweight patients the images are, compared to that or regular individuals, normally of a poor quality being attributed to the increased level of noise. With the low level of worry regarding the dosage in overweight patients, there is an automatic modulator that is utilized to maintain the standard of the images i.e. the dosage will increase for overweight and decrease according to size and therefore the utilization of ASIR the images are pristine and this is achieved without the overloading of the radiation.

Multiple studies have shown noise reduction does improve image quality. However, low dose images without noise reduction show the same CT findings. Iterative reconstruction has an advantage in accurately modeling the system geometry, incorporating physical effects like beam spectrum, noise, beam hardening effect, scatter and incomplete data sampling. It may improve spatial resolution and reduce image artifacts such as beam hardening, windmill, and metal artifacts. However, the cost is high computation load!

The Technetium-99 Problem

nuclear medicine

From 2009 to 2010, the world experienced a severe, worldwide shortage of the radioisotope technetium-99 (tech99) when the Chalk River Plant in Ontario, Canada shut down for more than a year due to water leaks. The Canadian plant, along with one in Petten, Netherlands, is responsible for two thirds of the world supply of the radioisotope. Technetium-99 is used in millions of medical procedures around the world, most commonly in identifying and treating cancer and heart diseases. The shortage meant delays in nuclear medicine tests and forced the use of substitute isotopes that were inferior. The shortage was compounded again when the Netherlands reactor went offline for several months as well. The situation left the worldwide medical community scrambling.

The isotope tech99 is crucially important in nuclear medicine for two main reasons: 1) It has a short half-life, so it breaks down quickly, exposing the patient to a small dose of radiation. 2) It emits easily detectable gamma rays making it ideal for diagnostics. However, the production requires molybdenum 99 (moly99) made in nuclear reactors using weapons-grade uranium. The fifty-four year old Chalk River plant that supplies half of the tech99 for the US is currently running again, yet its license expires in four years. Canada has tried to build two replacement reactors, but they have not turned out to be usable. Nuclear medicine is pushing to find an alternative to production that does not rely on outdated reactors that use enriched uranium.

New Developments In fMRI

 imaging equipment, MRI

On November 1, 1991, the first paper on functional MRI (fMRI) was published in the journal, Science. Since then, fMRI has helped to develop a surge of interest in cognitive neuroscience. Many world-class research centers are dedicated to using fMRI as the main tool of investigation. fMRI has not only focused on cognitive research but also social research, for instance, how the brain reacts to advertising or pictures of people of different ethnicities. In fact, fMRI has been applied to almost every aspect of brain research since its inception. However, some problems regarding fMRI research remain. In a Nature News Feature published on April 4, entitled, “Brain Imaging: fMRI 2.0” several researchers were interviewed as to what they think about the future of fMRI. Their commentary is summarized below.

One of the limitations of fMRI is it does not detect brain activity directly. There is still contention over whether the mapping of deoxygenated hemoglobin correlates directly with activity in the brain. John George, an MRI physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico has developed a way to measure the magnetic field of each neuron as it conducts electrical signals. The technology is called SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices). He admits the technology is in its early stages but is confident about its promise for future research.

Mechanical Ventilators

 

intensive care

 

Ever since the introduction of the Iron Lung in treating polio victims, mechanical ventilators have kept patients alive during times of respiratory failure. Mechanical ventilators are found in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where they are used to support respiratory function in patients with respiratory failure. Today’s hospitals utilize positive pressure ventilators that deliver a breath of air into the patient’s lungs. There are two general phases of each breath that the ventilator must simulate: inspiration and expiration. Inspiration begins when the diaphragm contracts and moves downward, causing negative pressure to develop in the pleural space. This pressure difference causes air to move into the lungs. Expiration is a passive process when the diaphragm relaxes, causing pressure to equalize in the chest and air to rush out of the lungs.

There are several types of settings in ventilators to adjust ventilation to the needs of the patient. Most of this terminology refers to inspiration; expiratory support is almost always via PEEP or CPAP, which is described later. First, the ventilator needs to know when to initiate inspiration. This is known as triggering. Triggering can occur at a set timed frequency. The ventilator can also “sense” the patient’s inspiratory effort by way of a decrease in baseline pressure, causing initiation of inspiration. Most modern ventilators today trigger inspiration by sensing inspiratory flow created by the patient. This mechanism requires less work by the patient than pressure triggering.

Pneumonitor™, Continuous Respiratory Monitoring for Premature Infants

Pneumonitor™, Continuous Respiratory Monitoring for Premature Infants

 

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A newly developed device for the monitoring of respiratory problems in premature babies has recently been developed by Pneumedicare.

The device continuously monitors the baby’s respiratory function, and can immediately detect any deterioration. In addition to detection, the device may assist in characterizing any underlying problems. Thus, it facilitates the diagnosis and correct treatment before the baby suffers distress.

Use of the “Pneumonitor™” in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

The Pneumonitor™ is non-invasive, with very small sensors. Its operation is simple, and user-friendly, with information that is intuitive and easy to understand. The main purpose of the device is the early detection of respiratory problems and progressing complications ahead of any further distress or injury. The Pneumonitor™ consists of three very small motion sensors attached to either side of the chest and to the upper abdomen. Symmetry of lung ventilation, together with breathing effort, are measured by the monitor. Recorded information is filtered, processed, and presented on the device display. Once the Pneumonitor™ identifies a significant change in respiratory function or in the symmetry of ventilation, an alarm is activated, and the displayed information specifies the nature and location of the underlying problem.

In spite of the currently used sophisticated monitoring systems, up to 45% of life-threatening events in the NICU go undetected, and are recognized only by attending staff inspection. Moreover, when the monitors do detect a problem, as decreased oxygen saturation, the baby is already in distress, and the situation can become life threatening. Nevertheless, the physician still has to establish the possible reason for the alarm, and document the correct diagnosis, before initiating the appropriate treatment.

The Journal of Intensive Care Medicine, a leading professional journal in the field, published an editorial discussing the Pneumonitor™, entitled: “Early detection of complication, prevention is better than cure.” The editorial of this esteemed journal also awarded a study submitted by the developers of the monitoring system as paper of the month. The founders of Pneumedicare are Dr. Dan Waisman from the Faculty of Medicine at the Technion and Carmel Medical Center, Prof. Amir Landesberg from the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at the Technion, and Dr. Carmit Levy, Pneumedicare CEO. “The Pneumonitor™was successfully tested in preclinical studies with different disease models. It was also tested in 63 cases at the Carmel, Bnai-Zion and Meyer Children’s Hospitals in Haifa, Israel. The Pneumonitor™ is now ready for FDA review”.

Recent research shows that up to 10% of worldwide births are preterm. In addition, about 10% of full term babies develop respiratory complications that require strict NICU supervision. In the USA alone, there are roughly 400,000 premature births per year. Almost 15% of very low weight babies, weighing less than 1500 grams, will die. Of those who survive, 15% will develop severe complications and suffer from severe morbidity, such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, blindness, hearing loss, and severe chronic lung disease. The vast majority of the above problems are directly related to the early management and care of the infant’s respiratory problems. Therefore, tight monitoring with early detection of any respiratory deterioration and immediate administration of the appropriate treatment are imperatives that can prevent severe sequelae.

 

 

Source: http://www.medwow.com/articles/